Magazine

The Week Ahead

May 06, 2001

PERSONAL INCOME

Monday, Apr. 30, 8:30 a.m. EDT -- Personal income in March probably rose 0.4%, after increasing 0.4% in February. That is the median forecast of economists surveyed by Standard & Poor's MMS, a division of The

McGraw-Hill Companies.

PURCHASING MANAGERS' INDEX

Tuesday, May 1, 10 a.m. EDT -- The National Association of Purchasing Management's index is expected to have risen from 43.1% in March to 44.4% in April.

CONSTRUCTION SPENDING

Tuesday, May 1, 10 a.m. EDT -- Building outlays for March likely increased by 0.3%. Lower interest rates and a strong housing market have helped keep new construction going. February spending rose 0.6%.

FACTORY INVENTORIES

Wednesday, May 2, 10 a.m. EDT -- Manufacturing inventories in March probably rose minimally, if at all, after falling 0.1% in February. That is suggested by a small rise in March factory output.

BEIGE BOOK

Wednesday, May 2, 2 p.m. EDT -- The Federal Reserve Board will release its compilation of regional economic activity. The Beige Book is made available in advance of the policy meeting scheduled for May 15.

EMPLOYMENT

Friday, May 4, 8:30 a.m. EDT -- Nonfarm payrolls are expected to have added 50,000 jobs in April, after a surprising loss of 86,000 in March. The April unemployment rate probably rose to 4.4%, from 4.3% in March.